EP1364840B1 - Driver or passenger air bag - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a driver or front passenger airbag for motor vehicles according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such an airbag serves to protect a motor vehicle occupant in a so-called front crash, in which a vehicle collides head-on with an obstacle, in particular for avoiding a collision of one of the front vehicle occupants with the windshield, the steering wheel or dashboard. The gas bag of a generic driver or passenger airbag has at least two airbag sections which are separated from one another such that the airbag inflated by means of a gas generator is provided on its front side facing the occupant to be protected with a gap extending between the airbag sections and the airbag sections exclusively on the one to be protected Inmates facing away from each other are connected.

From the DE 100 33 937 A1 an airbag for an occupant protection device in motor vehicles is known, which is inflatable by means of a gas generator and the outer shell in the inflated state on its the occupant to be protected enveloping surface forms a gap in which the inmate to be protected in an oop case when inflating of the gas bag can penetrate with a body part facing the gas bag, wherein the gap is spread open in order to mitigate the collision of the occupant with the associated envelope surface of the gas bag in an oop case. In addition, means, for example in the form of a sheet-like element, may be provided to clamp the airbag sections separated from one another by the gap, so that the airbag after inflation provides the same protection to a passenger in normal position as a gas bag without a gap. It is However, by arranging and forming the sheet-like element ensures that a located outside its normal seating position, in the direction of the airbag module prone inmate (corresponding to the so-called oop case) can penetrate during inflation of the airbag in the airbag gap.

From the DE 201 02 115 U1 a so-called ring air bag for a driver or passenger airbag module is known, which has an annular aufzublasende chamber enclosing an inner, facing the occupant to be protected indentation. With such gas bags better retention values should be achieved in an oop case, that the front of the airbag facing the occupant is accelerated less than gas bags without annular chamber and thereby the risk of injury to the occupant as a result of a collision with the unfolding gas bag is reduced. In this case, a closure part is attached to the gas bag wall such that it pushes in the inflated state of the airbag in front of the mouth of the indentation and thereby closes the indentation. As a result, the vehicle occupant to be protected can not penetrate into the indentation.

A disadvantage of the known gas bags for an airbag module that, despite reduced mechanical stress on the occupant to be protected in an oop case, they can lead to thermal stress on the occupant to be protected when it comes into contact with hot tissue parts of the airbag, i. with tissue parts of the airbag shell, which were heated by the hot gases used to inflate the airbag.

From the JP-A 4-292239 and the JP-A 4-201644 It is in each case known to bridge a gap formed in a generic airbag arrangement between two gas bag areas on the front side of a gas bag facing a vehicle occupant to be protected with a flat fabric, so that the vehicle occupant is caught in a crash by that flat fabric before it can penetrate into the gap behind it.

A comparable arrangement is in the WO 97/06987 A1 for a side airbag and in the older, post-published EP 1 262 377 A2 shown for a knee protection airbag.

In the US-A 4,076,277 a front airbag for a motor vehicle is described, which comprises a plurality of gas bag areas surrounded by an additional shell.

The invention is based on the problem of further improving a driver or passenger airbag of the aforementioned type.

This problem is inventively solved by the provision of a driver or passenger airbag with the features of claim 1.

Thereafter, the gap in the region of the front side of the airbag is bridged by a flat element such that the occupant to be protected in an impact in the direction of the front of the airbag is not caught by the two airbag sections, but by the planar element. In this case, the planar element relative to the head and upper body of the vehicle occupant to be protected front end (the front) of the airbag is slightly offset to the rear, in the direction of the head and upper body of the vehicle occupant rear side of the airbag, so that part of the between The gap formed by the gas bag sections - as viewed from the head and upper body of the vehicle occupant - extends in front of the planar element. As a result, the vehicle occupant initially penetrates into the region of the gap between the two gas bag sections which is not covered by the planar element before it is impacted by the planar element, before it is impacted by the planar element. Thus, quite a body part of the occupant (along with the planar element) can get a little way into the gap; the inmate should not be on the plane Element over, that is, without being caught by this, penetrate into the gap altogether.

Characterized in that the gas bag formed according to the invention on the one hand has two airbag sections, which are completely separated from each other at the front of the airbag by a gap (as shown in DE 100 33 937 A1 On the other hand, having a planar element that bridges the gap in such a way that the occupant to be protected can not penetrate into it, it is possible that the retention effect for protecting a vehicle occupant is essentially taken over by the planar element and the two inflatable airbag sections essentially serve only to tighten the sheet element. In this way, the required to protect the vehicle occupant retention effect can be achieved without the occupant gets in contact with the shell of the airbag and thus possibly with hot tissue parts.

Although is out of the WO 97/06987 a side airbag having a first, provided for the protection of the head of a vehicle occupant and a second provided for the protection of the thorax region of the vehicle occupant chamber, said two chambers are separated on the front side facing the vehicle occupant to be protected by a gap and this gap by means a planar element is bridged; However, the arrangement described there is specially designed for a head-thorax airbag as a side airbag.

The inventively designed airbag for a driver or front passenger airbag is attached to each of the separated by the gap airbag sections at least one point and in this case preferably has a total of at least three attachment points. This ensures that the sheet-like element is fixed immovably (with respect to the airbag) to the gas bag.

When inflating the airbag, the planar element is tightened so that it can develop the required retention effect, and at the same time the gas bag sections separated from each other by the gap are braced against each other.

It should be noted that act by the tensioning of the airbag sections at the locations where the two airbag sections, contact forces, which have a tendency to push the airbag sections apart again. the However, the flat element counteracts, wherein the contact forces additionally contribute to the streamlining of the sheet-like element.

The planar element bridges the gap in such a way that the occupant is caught by the planar element in the event of an impact in the direction of the front side of the airbag (and indeed also in a so-called oop-case), ie this serves as the actual retaining element.

Accordingly, the occupant is preferably caught and restrained by a region of the planar element behind which at least part of the gap runs, so that direct contact of the occupant with the airbag envelope is avoided as far as possible.

The airbag sections are preferably designed and arranged so that they unfold during inflation of the airbag - as seen by the occupant to be protected - each in a direction adjacent to the upper body of the occupant to be protected direction, so that the gap in the inflated airbag substantially in the longitudinal direction of the upper body of the occupant to be protected, that is, parallel to the spine of the corresponding occupant extends.

The planar element itself can on the one hand be membrane-like, e.g. be designed as a fabric part, or on the other hand as a network.

To fasten the sheet-like element to the gas bag, those seams which are also suitable for connecting different parts of the airbag cover, e.g. serve a lower and a top plate of the airbag cover.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the gas bag has exactly two gas bag sections which are separated from one another by the gap and which are arranged in the inflated state in cross-section substantially V-shaped.

According to another embodiment of the invention more than two airbag sections are provided, which are arranged in the inflated state substantially star-shaped.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures.

Figur 1a

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines aus zwei Gassackabschnitten bestehenden Gassackes für ein Seitenairbagmodul, der an seiner Vorderseite einen durch ein flächiges Element überbrückten Spalt aufweist;

Figur 1b

den Gassack aus Figur 1a, eingebaut in ein Kraftfahrzeug;

Figur 1c

die Anordnung aus Figur 1b während des Eintauchens eines zu schützenden Fahrzeuginsassen;

Fig. 1d-1g

unterschiedliche Ansichten des Gassackes aus Figur 1a;

Figur 2a

eine schematische Darstellung der Unterplatte eines aus zwei Gassackabschnitten bestehenden Gassackes, der in seiner Vorderseite einen Spalt bildet;

Figur 2b

einen Gassack entsprechend Figur 2a im aufgeblasenen Zustand innerhalb eines Kraftfahrzeugs;

Figur 2c

eine Vorderansicht eines Gassackes gemäß Figur 2a mit einem den Spalt überbrückenden flächigen Element;

Figur 2d

einen Gassack entsprechend Figur 2a beim Entfalten aus einem Modulgehäuse heraus;

Figur 2e

den Gassack aus Figur 2d nach dem vollständigen Entfalten;

Figur 3a

eine schematische Darstellung eines innerhalb eines Modulgehäuses angeordneten, gefalteten Gassackes mit zwei durch einen Spalt voneinander getrennten Gassackabschnitten und einem flächigen Element zur Überbrückung des Spaltes;

Figur 3b

den Gassack aus Figur 3a beim Entfalten;

Figur 3c

den Gassack aus den Figuren 3a und 3b im entfalteten Zustand;

Figur 4a

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 3a, wobei zusätzlich der zu schützende Fahrzeuginsasse in einer oop-Position gezeigt ist;

Figur 4b

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 3b, wobei die Entfaltung des Gassackes durch einen sich in oop-Position befindlichen Fahrzeuginsassen beeinflusst wird;

Figur 4c

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 3c mit einem sich in oop-Position befindlichen Fahrzeuginsassen;

Figur 5a

eine erste Abwandlung der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 1b;

Figur 5b

eine Draufsicht auf den Gassack gemäß der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 5a;

Figur 6a

eine zweite Abwandlung der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 1b;

Figur 6b

eine Vorderansicht des Gassackes der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 6a;

Figur 7a

eine dritte Abwandlung der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 1 b;

Figur 7b

eine Vorderansicht des Gassackes der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 7a;

Figur 8

eine vierte Abwandlung der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 1b;

Figur 9

eine fünfte Abwandlung der Gassackanordnung aus Figur 1 b.

Show it:

FIG. 1a

a perspective view of an existing two gas bag sections airbag for a side airbag module having at its front a bridged by a flat element gap;

FIG. 1b

the gas bag off FIG. 1a , installed in a motor vehicle;

Figure 1c

the arrangement FIG. 1b during the immersion of a vehicle occupant to be protected;

Fig. 1d-1g

different views of the airbag FIG. 1a ;

FIG. 2a

a schematic representation of the lower plate of an existing two gas bag sections airbag, which forms a gap in its front;

FIG. 2b

an airbag accordingly FIG. 2a in the inflated state within a motor vehicle;

Figure 2c

a front view of a gas bag according to FIG. 2a with a flat element bridging the gap;

Figure 2d

an airbag accordingly FIG. 2a upon deployment from a module housing;

FIG. 2e

the gas bag off Figure 2d after complete unfolding;

FIG. 3a

a schematic representation of a disposed within a module housing, folded airbag with two separated by a gap airbag sections and a flat element for bridging the gap;

FIG. 3b

the gas bag off FIG. 3a when unfolding;

Figure 3c

the gas bag from the FIGS. 3a and 3b in the unfolded state;

FIG. 4a

a representation according to FIG. 3a additionally showing the vehicle occupant to be protected in an oop position;

FIG. 4b

a representation according to FIG. 3b wherein the deployment of the airbag is influenced by a vehicle occupant in an oop position;

Figure 4c

a representation according to Figure 3c with a vehicle occupant in an oop position;

FIG. 5a

a first modification of the airbag assembly FIG. 1b ;

FIG. 5b

a plan view of the gas bag according to the airbag arrangement FIG. 5a ;

FIG. 6a

a second modification of the airbag assembly FIG. 1b ;

FIG. 6b

a front view of the airbag of the airbag assembly FIG. 6a ;

Figure 7a

a third modification of the airbag assembly FIG. 1 b;

FIG. 7b

a front view of the airbag of the airbag assembly Figure 7a ;

FIG. 8

a fourth modification of the gas bag assembly FIG. 1b ;

FIG. 9

a fifth modification of the airbag assembly FIG. 1 b.

The FIGS. 1a to 7b and 9 in this case show no airbag arrangement in which a gap formed between two airbag areas is bridged by a planar element, which is located in a transitional region between the front side facing the vehicle occupant to be protected and the rear side of an airbag facing away from the vehicle occupant to be protected. Rather, here the planar element is shown in each case at the front of the corresponding airbag; The said figures therefore do not show any embodiments with all features of the claimed invention.

In the FIGS. 1 a and 1d to 1g, an airbag 1 is shown, the airbag cover 10 has two on the back R of the airbag 1 by a channel 13 integrally interconnected airbag sections 11, 12 which form a gap on the front side V of the airbag 1, through a planar element 2 is bridged in the form of a membrane or a tissue part. The two airbag sections 11, 12 are completely separated from each other on the front side V of the airbag 1, ie, the gap 15 extends through the entire airbag, so that the two airbag sections 11, 12 could be pivoted to each other around the connecting channel 13, if they would not be held together by the planar element 2. The sheet-like element 2 is sewn along each of its outer edges 20 to each of the two airbag sections 11, 12 in such a way that in the inflated state of the airbag 1 the planar element 2 is tightened and at the same time the two airbag sections 11 forming a V in cross-section, 12 braced against each other.

FIG. 1b shows the gas bag FIG. 1a in the inflated state in a motor vehicle. The gas bag is in this case part of a arranged inside the instrument panel A of the motor vehicle passenger airbag module and extends in inflated state between the dashboard A, the windshield S and the occupant to be protected I. The rear side R of the airbag is in this case together with the other components of the airbag module, namely a gas generator for inflating the airbag and a module housing for receiving the airbag and gas generator the dashboard A set. The front side V of the airbag is facing the upper body O and the head K of the occupant I to be protected, in such a way that the occupant I to be protected to achieve the desired retention effect with his head K and his upper body O on the planar element 2 hits, as shown Figure 1c which shows the impact of the vehicle occupant l with his head K and his upper body O on the existing from the airbag 1 and the sheet-like element 2 airbag. Behind the area of the planar element 2, on which the vehicle occupant l strikes his head K and his upper body O, the gap 15 extends between the two airbag sections 11, 12, so that an immediate collision of the head K and the upper body O of the vehicle occupant l is avoided as possible with the shell 10 of the airbag 1. In addition, this configuration allows a self-centering of the head K and upper body O of the occupant l in an off-center impact on the sheet-like element. 2

An essential function of the airbag 1 in this case is to tighten the sheet-like element 2, so that it can develop the desired retention effect. At the same time, the airbag sections 11, 12 are sufficiently yielding, because the gas used for inflating the airbag 1 is released immediately after unfolding of the airbag 1, so that the planar element 2 is still sufficiently deformable even in the tightened state upon impact of the vehicle occupant 1, in order to avoid injury to the vehicle occupant I, which could occur if the flat element 2 is clamped too tightly.

FIG. 2a shows a the top or bottom plate of a gas bag 1 in the FIGS. 1a to 1g The shell of the airbag 1 consists of two identical tissue parts 100 connected to one another along a seam according to FIG FIG. 2a , Each of the two tissue parts 100 forming the upper or lower plate has two elliptical sections 110, 120 which are connected to one another in an integral manner, so that an airbag 1 with two airbag sections 11, 12 corresponding to the parts of the tissue is formed from the tissue parts FIGS. 1a to 1g can be formed.

FIG. 2b shows a schematic side view of one of two tissue parts 100 according to FIG. 2a existing gas bag 1 in the inflated state in a motor vehicle, wherein the gas bag 1 is part of a arranged in the instrument panel of the motor vehicle passenger airbag module and is inflatable by a arranged in the instrument panel gas generator G. In the inflated state, the gas bag 1 extends from the vehicle occupant (passenger) to be protected in front of the instrument panel A and below the windscreen S.

Figure 2c shows a front view of an inflated, from the two tissue parts 100 according to FIG. 2a existing airbag, wherein the two airbag sections 11, 12 are separated on the facing the occupant to be protected front of the airbag by a gap, which is completely covered by a sheet-like element 2, and wherein the planar element 2 along its edge 20 with each of the Airbag sections 11, 12 is sewn.

Figure 2d shows the gas bag 1 while it unfolds by inflation from the module housing M of a passenger airbag module out. It can be seen that the two airbag sections 11, 12 initially move in a direction a outwards and adjacent to the upper body O of the occupant 1 to be protected, before, on further inflation, a movement in a direction b towards the upper body O and the head K of the occupant to be protected takes place. The two on the front side V of the airbag 1 separated by a gap 15 airbag sections 11, 12 remain, as shown by the side view of the fully inflated airbag in FIG. 2e becomes clear, essentially at the lateral edge region of the upper body O of the vehicle occupant to be protected l. The central area of the upper body O (central chest and abdominal area and head K) is associated with the planar element 2, which moves when inflated in a direction c frontally on the occupants to be protected and is tightened by the two airbag sections 11, 12 ,

In FIG. 2e Furthermore, the contact forces F are indicated, which occur when the two gas bag sections 11, 12 touch each other in the region of the gap 15 during deployment of the gas bag. The forces F have the effect of pushing the gas bag sections 11, 12 apart and result in a tightening of the flat element 2. The tension occurring in the flat element 2 is influenced by the dimension of the area of the flat element 2 bridging the gap 15. The shorter the distance between the attachment points 20 of the planar element 2 on both sides of the gap 15, the greater the tension occurring in the planar element. This is due to the shorter distance increasing contact forces between the airbag sections 11, 12 at their contact surfaces. With a larger dimension of the gap 15 bridging region of the sheet-like element 2 (corresponding to a greater distance between the attachment points of the sheet 2 on both sides of the gap 15 and thus a greater width of the gap 15) occurs not only a lower voltage, but the airbag sections 11, 12 unfold stronger laterally outwards. The dimension of the planar element 2 thus also controls the arrangement of the airbag sections 11, 12 of the fully inflated airbag.

FIG. 3a shows in greater detail arranged within a module housing M of a passenger airbag module airbag 1 from the FIGS. 1a to 2e , wherein the folded airbag 1 surrounds a gas generator G.

FIG. 3b shows in greater detail the beginning of the deployment process of the airbag 1 out of the module housing M during inflation by means of a gas generator G, according to the schematic representation Figure 2d , For explanation, the comments on Figure 2d directed. It can also be seen that, for fastening the flat element 2 to the airbag sections 11, 12, the seam N is used, which is used to connect the two fabric parts (cf. FIG. 2a ), from which the shell of the airbag 1 consists.

Figure 3c shows in greater detail a representation of the fully inflated by means of the gas generator G and fully out of the module housing M out deployed airbag, according to the schematic representation in FIG. 2e to whose explanation reference is made for further details.

Based on FIGS. 3b and 3c In particular, it can be seen that during the entire unfolding process of the airbag 1, the gap 15 formed on the front side V of the airbag 1 between the two airbag sections 11, 12 is always covered by the planar element 2.

FIG. 4a shows a representation of the folded in a module housing M airbag 1 accordingly FIG. 3a However, with a vehicle occupant l with his upper body O and his head K is very close to the module housing M. This corresponds to a so-called oop case, in which the vehicle occupant is prevented from his normal sitting position in the direction of the airbag module.

The Figures 4b and 4c show the gas bag 1 at the beginning of the unfolding process and in the fully inflated state, as shown in the FIGS. 3b and 3c However, wherein the vehicle occupant 1 projecting in the direction of the airbag module influences the deployment process of the airbag 1. Based on Figures 4b and 4c It is clear that the two airbag sections 11, 12 through the early immersion of the occupant l in the area between the two airbag sections 11, 12 substantially laterally next to the upper body O and the head K of the protected vehicle occupant l deploy, so that an immediate firing of the vehicle occupant I is prevented in the oop case.

As in the case in which the vehicle occupant 1 to be protected is in a normal sitting position, here too the restraining function with regard to the vehicle occupant 1 is taken over by the planar element 2, which is fastened to the two airbag sections 11, 12 at its edge 20 and the gap 15 between the two airbag sections 11, 12 covered. Due to the occurring in the oop case early penetration of the vehicle occupant to be protected l in the area between the two airbag sections 11, 12, the planar element 2, compared with the triggering of the airbag at a normal position occupants, a piece in the direction of the rear side R of the airbag 1 is displaced so that the occupant 1 can penetrate with his upper body O a little way into the gap 15. A complete penetration of the occupant l with his upper body O in the gap 15 is prevented by the sheet-like element 2.

Decisive for the retention function of the airbag 1 in an oop case is that an immediate, frontal firing of the occupant l with the airbag sections 11, 12 is avoided and that the occupant l of only relatively slowly on the occupant l out moving planar element 2 is collected, so that the risk of injury to the occupant l is significantly reduced.

In the FIGS. 5a and 5b a modification of the embodiment of an airbag 1 shown in the preceding figures is shown, in which the two side airbag sections 11a, 11b on the one hand and 12a, 12b are each divided into two subsections 11a and 11b or 12a and 12b, so that the airbag in a front view according to FIG. 5b has a substantially star-shaped contour, and in addition to the slot 15, which separates the two airbag sections 11a, 11b on the one hand and 12a, 12b on the other hand, two additional column 16a, 16b are formed, each of the sections 11a, 11 and 12a, 12b separate from each other.

Furthermore, in which in the FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrated embodiment, the sheet-like element 2 formed as a network. Incidentally, this embodiment is in its function with the basis of the FIGS. 1a to 4c explained.

Figures 6a and 6b show an embodiment of a gas bag 1, wherein in contrast to the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1a to 4c the two airbag sections 11, 12 are not only separated from one another by a gap 15 covered by the planar element 2, but moreover have on their upper side a bulge 16 below the windshield S of a motor vehicle.

In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 7a and 7b The two airbag sections 11, 12 additionally have on their front side a bulge 17, ie a depression which extends in the direction of the rear side R of the airbag 1.

In the embodiments according to the FIGS. 5a and 5b . 6a and 6b such as 7a and 7b is due to the additional, formed by the blank of the respective airbag 1 cavities 16a, 16b; 16 and 17 each achieve a reduction in the working volume of the airbag 1, so that correspondingly less gas is required to inflate the airbag and for this purpose a smaller, lighter gas generator can be used.

As a result, in the embodiments according to the FIGS. 5a and 5b . 6a and 6b such as 7a and 7b achieved by a targeted adaptation of the blank of the airbag cover to the space available within the vehicle, in particular between instrument panel, window and occupants, optimal occupant protection with the lowest possible amount of gas required.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the embodiment of the Figures 6a and 6b in which the planar element 2 does not extend directly on the front side V of the airbag 1 and thus does not completely cover the gap (15) formed between the two airbag sections 11, 12 by the head K of the vehicle occupant. Rather, the planar element 2 extends from the front side V of the airbag 1 into a transition region between the front side V and the rear side R of the airbag 1, so that a region of the gap formed between the airbag sections 11, 12 faces the head K and upper body O (15) not by the surface element 2 is covered. Accordingly, the vehicle occupant l immersed in a crash case on the front side V of the airbag assembly with his head K and his upper body O first a little way into the area between the two airbag sections 11, 12 (see FIG. 6b ), before it is caught by the gap element between these two gas bag sections bridging surface element 2. The described arrangement of the planar element 2 is made possible in particular by the additional bulge 16 of the airbag 1, which is partially bounded by the planar element 2.

As a result, the in FIG. 8 illustrated gas bag assembly characterized in that the planar element 2 on the front side V of the airbag 1 does not extend directly to the head K and upper body O of the vehicle occupant I facing the front end, but towards this front end a little way to the back R of the airbag. 1 is offset. As a result, the planar element 2 bridges only those regions of the gap formed between the gas bag sections, which are behind the planar element 2, viewed from the head K and upper body O of the vehicle occupant 1. Accordingly, in the event of a crash-related movement in the direction of the front side V of the airbag 1 with its head K or upper body O, the vehicle occupant 1 first of all plunges into the areas of said gap lying in front of the planar element 2, before passing through the planar element 2 is caught.

FIG. 9 shows a further modification of the airbag assembly of the Figures 6a and 6b , wherein a difference is that the additional bulge 18 of the airbag 1 the knee and thigh area of the occupant I to be protected (and not as in FIG. 6a the windscreen S of the vehicle) faces. Another difference is that the in FIG. 9 shown gas bag 1 is designed and adapted for fixing its rear end in the lower part of the instrument panel A of a motor vehicle, so that the airbag 1 in the region of its rear end forms a knee protector for the vehicle occupants l, that has a gas bag section, which in a crash case serves as a restraining element for the knees of the vehicle occupant.

Claims (22)

1. Driver's or front passenger's airbag having a gas bag (1) which can be inflated in a head-on collision to protect a motor vehicle occupant, and which has at least two gas bag sections (11, 12) which are separated from one another in such a manner that the inflated gas bag (1) has, on its front side (V) facing the occupant (I) to be protected, a gap (15) which runs between the gas bag sections (11, 12) and by means of which the two gas bag sections (11, 12) are completely separated from each other on the front side (V) of the gas bag (1), the gap (15) being spanned by a sheet-like element (2) in such a manner that, in the case of an impact directed toward the front side (V) of the gas bag (1), the occupant (I) to be protected is intercepted by the sheet-like element (2), characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) extends in a transition region between the front side (V) of the gas bag (1) and the rear side (R) of the gas bag (1) which faces away from the occupant (I) to be protected, by the sheet-like element (2) being offset with respect to the front side (V) of the gas bag (1) in the direction of its rear side (R), with the result that a part of the gap (15) which is formed between the gas bag sections (11, 12) extends in front of the sheet-like element (2), as viewed from the head and upper body of the vehicle occupant (I).
2. Airbag according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is arranged at a distance from the rear side (R) of the gas bag (1) which faces away from the occupant (I) to be protected.
3. Airbag according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is fastened to each of the gas bag sections (11, 12).
4. Airbag according to Claim 3, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is positionally fixed at at least one point on each of the gas bag sections (11, 12).
5. Airbag according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is fastened nondisplaceably to the gas bag (1).
6. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is tightened during inflation of the gas bag (1).
7. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) braces the gas bag sections (11, 12) relative to each other.
8. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag sections (11, 12) are in contact with each other in the gap (15) region on at least one contact surface and contact forces (F) appear on the contact surface, which have the tendency to push both gas bag sections (11, 12) apart.
9. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) spans the gap (15) in such a manner that, in the case of an impact directed toward the front side (V) of the gas bag (1), the occupant (I) is intercepted by the sheet-like element (2).
10. Airbag according to Claim 9, characterized in that the occupant (I) is intercepted by a region of the sheet-like element (2) behind which the gap (15) or a part of the gap (15) runs.
11. Airbag according to Claim 10, characterized in that the region of the sheet-like element (2) has no direct contact with the gas bag (1).
12. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during inflation of the gas bag (1) the gas bag sections (11, 12) are in each case unfolded, as seen by the occupant (I) to be protected, in a direction (a) next to the upper body (O) of the occupant (I) to be protected.
13. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gap (15) extends essentially along the longitudinal direction of the upper body (O) of the occupant (I).
14. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is formed by a membrane.
15. Airbag according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is formed by a net.
16. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet-like element (2) is fastened to the gas bag (1) by means of at least one seam (N) which is used for connecting different parts of the gas bag covering (10).
17. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag (1) has precisely two gas bag sections (11, 12) separated from each other by means of a gap (15).
18. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag (1) when inflated is of essentially V-shaped design in cross section.
19. Airbag according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the gas bag (1) has more than two gas bag sections (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b).
20. Airbag according to Claim 19, characterized in that the gas bag sections (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) are arranged in a star-shaped manner.
21. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag (1) has, in addition to the gap (15), at least one further indentation (16, 16a, 16b, 17) between gas bag sections.
22. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag (1) is arranged in such a manner and designed for such fastening on a motor vehicle that the gas bag (1) additionally forms a knee protector.

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